This Military Service Page was created/owned by
CWO3 Robert A. Adao (Rhino)
to remember
Marine PFC Michael W. Issenmann.
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Casualty Info
Home Town Santa Clara
Last Address Santa Clara, California
Casualty Date Sep 17, 1968
Cause KIA-Died of Wounds
Reason Gun, Small Arms Fire
Location Quang Tri (Vietnam)
Conflict Vietnam War
Location of Interment Golden Gate National Cemetery (VA) - San Bruno, California
Wall/Plot Coordinates 43W 016/Plot: Section O Site 1795
Recorded in 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines Command Chronology Journal (7/1/68 - 7/31/68)
https://www.vietnam.ttu.edu/reports/images.php?img=/images/1201/1201057033.pdf (Page 36 of 63)
Date/Time: 190830H Incident:Co K while conducting search and sweep mission received sniper fire at coord. YD042656 from the west. One (1) USMC WIA medevac. Returned suppressive fire, requested AO. Action Taken: S_Regt
K/3/9 located at Con Thien Combat Base (HILL-158 UTM Grid Reference YD042659), Quang Tri Province, I Corps
Operation LANCASTER II
WIA on 7/19/68 by friendly fire while returning from a Search and Sweep mission (UTM Grid Reference YD042656)
8 KM (5 Miles) W-SW OF Con Thien Combat Base
Medevac'd 190830H to the Navy Hospital Ship, USS Sanctuary, operating off the coast of I Corps, then finally to Clark Air Base Hospital, Philippine Islands
Died 2 months later as a result of his wounds at Clark Air Base Hospital 9/17/68
Comments/Citation:
13-Month Tour Start Date: 2/4/68
Co. K, 3rd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, I Corps
1. First Company Commander: Captain A. K. Ward (WIA 2/14/68)
2. Second Company Commander: 1stLt Patrick Scully (KIA 7/17/68)
Service Number: 2387866
Michael enlisted in the Marine Corps on 8/31/67 at AFEES in Oakland, Calif.
Pipeline from Boot Camp to Vietnam: 1) Boot Camp MCRD, San Diego for 8-weeks from 9/1/67 to 11/3/67 2) 2nd ITR, Camp Horno 53 Area, Camp Pendleton for 5-weeks from Nov 67 to Dec 67 3) BITS, Camp Horno 53 Area, Camp Pendleton for 3-weeks during Dec 67 (10-days Leave from late Dec 67 to early Jan 68)
4) Staging Battalion, Camp Pendleton for 2-weeks during Jan 68
5) Replacement Battalion, South Korea for 2-weeks from Jan 68 to Feb 68
6) Co. K, 3rd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, I Corps from 4 Feb 68 to 19 Jul 68
On 2/4/68 Michael arrived in Vietnam and was assigned to Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, I Corps RVN as a Rifleman 0311. On 7/19/68 Kilo Company was conducting patrols 8 kilometers W-SW of Con Thien (Hill 158) during Operation Lancaster II. Michael was wounded while returning from a night patrol by friendly 50-cal machine gun fire. He was immediately medevac'd from the battlefield and flown to the Navy Hospital Ship, USS Sanctuary, operating off the coast of I Corps. Michael was then flown to the USAF Hospital at Clark AB in the Philippines where he died 2-months later as a result of his wounds on 9/17/68.
During the 2-months Michael fought for his life in the Clark AB Hospital, his family was there for him. Michael was able to tell them that he was wounded by friendly fire from his own platoon that morning while returning back through the wire following a night patrol.
Michael's nickname, given to him in Boot Camp, was "Pineapple" due to his Hawaiian heritage. It followed him all the way to Vietnam and was a term of affection by all who used it.
He is survived by his father, William H. Issenmann, stepmother, Frances L. Issenmann, and mother, Donna Garrison. Home of record: 2659 Elliot St, Santa Clara, Calif.
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